tarwheel 

I am able to commute year-round in NC with Pearl Izumi Calientoes (toe covers) and Defeet Wooly Boolie socks, and my feet seldom get cold, even temps dip into the teens.

I'm loving the weather we're having lately. I actually like the cold and greatly prefer it over rain or hot, humid weather. It's nice being able to ride without getting all sweaty and your water getting hot.

PatrickGSR94

I don't know, I think I prefer warmer weather just because I can throw on my shorts and jersey and go, instead of having to get all suited up which seems to take forever.

Yesterday's ride home was glorious. I was dressed near perfect for the conditions, very comfortable. No problems at all with any motorists.

This morning was pretty good. Way less wind to deal with this time, which was nice. Had one car pass with another oncoming, and then right before I got to work a car turned right in front of me, and if I had been going faster it would have been a right hook. But I was also turning right and didn't really have to alter my trajectory at all so no harm done I suppose.

joeyduck

My wife wasn't feeling well and wanted to sleep in so I got to take the boy, yeah!

It was a nice ride with him, no problems. Not setting records.

I have been thinking the Fizix Microtex bar tape I have has not been holding up as well as I like and if I should get new stuff.

Well my question was answered for me. I will be getting new bar tape, unfortunately it will come with a new shifter.

The roads were wet/damp this morning. I had light traffic at one usually busy intersection and right turn. I approached at full speed in the lane, went wide, slowed and started to turn. I did not slow enough and I hit the fragmented line paint and my front washed out. I had been going about 50 km/h and slowed to about 40 km/h for the turn. I then slowed really fast as I slid. The path on strava is nice at depicting the situation.

I stopped about three feet from the car on the other side of the intersection. My whole right side was wet and dirty, no blood no ripped fabric. I got up. The drivers behind me both stopped and asked if I was okay, to which I replied "I think so." The woman whose car I almost slid into did not even seem to notice.

I wheeled to the curb and gave it and me a once over, put on the chain and started to pedal. Stopped checked over everything again and realized my right shifter is not working. I three speeded to work in my 48-36-26 and 12 cog. No worries.

Got to work and looked over again. I could not figure out anything with the shifter it is not holding tension and the release click is wonky. My already half functioning right pedal has a a lot more new metal showing. My front rack has a half inch scrape on the bottom. My bell on my STI has a lot of fresh brass showing.

I have a small hole in the palm of my glove, a few small holes in my tights and shirt and that is about it.

My elbow has a surface abrasion and that is all. My hip upper thigh is a bit red and minorly abraded. My right shoulder is sore. In total for going down at almost 50 km/h I feel it turned out okay.

I just do not want to tell my wife.

edit: had there been traffic I would have been only going 15 km/h to 20 km/h, if even that fast.







Edit: the Strava map is off a bit.

Ky_Rider

Only my second commute this week because of the snow and record lows. Took a longer scenic route of 18 miles. Temps were right around freezing. Beautful morning with almost no wind. Still looking for some warmer footwear for my 1.5 hour commute. Might hit some stores this weekend but I dread the holiday crowds.

timvan_78

Warm & Damp this AM, almost smoked a guy walking across the MUP. There were about 10 dump trucks parked along the road, and the drivers were all standing in a group on the side of the MUP. Suddenly one guy starts walking quickly to another truck that still had a driver in it. He didn't look both ways, or see my plethora of blinky lights, or high viz vest or reflective gear or anything--just walked. I let him know he should look around and if his name rhymes with truck, then we have an understanding.

Pull on the cable...is it broken off inside the shifter? The cable end might be stuck inside the shifter?

good you are ok. A crash at 50kms/hr could end a lot worse.

joeyduck

I have pushed and pulled the cable and up and down shifted the levers and there is no movement Only an occasional click and uptake of tension then it immediately releases the minimal tension on the down shift. The lever action produces nothing from the upshift. The downshift lever movement is close to normal but not quite and the upshift lever movement is sticky and not following the normal path. The cable does not seem broken and is only two weeks old.

I figure a replacement is the likely option. My closest and most liked LBS has a used set for $150 I may look at and a new set of Sora for 285 and another shop I do not like said a single lever would be about $90. Or I could go full upgrade to 10 speed but then I think I need new chain rings.

When I was sliding I was thinking of the things that could go wrong with my body. I got off easy. It is amazing what goes through your mind in split seconds.

dcb23

Hah! I like this phrase you've coined...and I think we've all felt it.

32F/0C Annoying headwind again. Passed a group of roughly 10 bikes, not road racer types, just ordinary folks out at 06:15. Not sure what that was.

mgw4jc

About 38F for the ride in. Not too bad. Traffic was light as I imagine it will be all next week too.

tarwheel 

Great ride this morning with temps in the upper 20s and low humidity. Like every morning this week I was tempted to drive since it was so cold, but I rode every day except Monday, when it rained all day. November is shaping up to be my best commuting month of the year, but Thanksgiving holidays will keep me from topping 500 miles commuting.

Joeyduck - I had the same sort of spill about 5 years ago, and I've been taking it a lot easier on the corners ever since. I couldn't even blame my spill on wet pavement, leaves or sand -- my bike just slid out from under me. I finally concluded that it was the new tires that I had just installed on my bike, they didn't have enough use on them to wear off "the bloom." I also got hurt, nothing serious but neck and shoulder bothered me for several months. My bike had the derailleur hanger bent, which could be re-straightened since it was a steel frame, and I ruined a helmet and jersey.

arsprod 

11F... 11... degrees... in November

spivonious

19F, 25mph head wind....I drove in. My legs are still recovering from the winds on Monday and Tuesday. Are we just skipping Autumn this year?

PatrickGSR94

Conditions yesterday evening were nearly identical to Wednesday evening, other than wind direction, so I dressed the same, except for wearing my half-finger gloves. Unfortunately the ride wasn't as pleasant I guess partly because of no tail wind, and also my legs were feeling quite fatigued and I just felt more tired in general. No problems on the ride, though.

CJ Str3tch

I can't stand it anymore! I didn't ride in at all this week because the temps have been below 15F and wind chills in the -5 to -10 range. I saw the forecast today (it was 3F when I woke up). Threw the bike in the back of the car, got dropped off at work and WILL RIDE HOME. I need to ride! Anyone else going through withdrawl? Spivonious, you're right, are we skipping autumn?

joeyduck

Well after my wreck yesterday I adjusted my RD to run in my 16t cog and use my front triple. It worked for about 3 km until I broke the chain.

My spare links were with my in laws for their European bike trip. I didn't think I had anything. So I called the family to get me. It wasn't a big detour for them at least.

The walk gave me a chance to call two shops about my triple and FD (Tiagra 4500) working with a 10 speed. Had anyone tried that. I have an Andel triple (rsc6) I think.

She picked me up and we went out to dinner. Where I found I had stepped on dog crap on the walk.

Got home and realized my chain breaker was in my pannier.

Road my no fendered Rocky Mountain this am. My wife was very worried I would die. It was a nice ride.

Got to work safe and wet. I choose no shoe covers to let the rain wash off the dog crap. It worked but my feet were wet. Walked into the warehouse and snagged and ripped my shirt. Great I crash going 50km/h and only three tiny holes. Rip the shirt waking into the warehouse. Arghh.

Have a great weekend everyone

RidingMatthew

@CJ Str3tch and @spivonious Autumn? what is that ? i forgot?
havent ridden all week got to ride next week!

groovestew

First ride in 2.5 weeks, and first ride since winterizing my bike (studded tires and platform pedals). We've had a bit of snow and some freeze-thaw cycles over the last couple weeks, so some of the trails are sheer ice, which can be a bit treacherous going downhill. The roads seem okay - wet and grimy, but not icy. About 4C this morning, and no wind.

ThermionicScott 

Fantastic ride this morning. I remoted in to work for an hour while it warmed up to ~15°F, then had a tailwind most of the way. Not only did that keep my face happy, I had a nice push and took my direct route. Riding home may be harder, but it's Friday.

bconneraz

I had a great ride in today, although I had to ride my road bike as my commuter developed a crack on the top tube at the head tube. While I love riding road bikes, nothing beats my commuter for commuting. I've spent the past 2 years dialing everything in; it was perfect. I'll have the frame fixed, but for now, I've decided that I'll build up a Long Haul Trucker by transferring all my parts over from my current bike. I ordered the frame and fork yesterday; hopefully it'll be in next week, and I can get back to riding a bike with no toe overlap, big cushy tires, and room to carry all my junk.

dcb23

Crazy....60F / 16C with a brisk wind. Unreal after a week of belwo freezing.

mgw4jc

Ditto. Wet roads due to rains all day yesterday, but sunshine and 70F for the afternoon.
Glad to have a short work week.

RidingMatthew

Finally back on the bike after November 8th being my last bike commute. Too much stuff in the evenings and so I just did not get to ride. I enjoyed the ride today. I wore my new Rain jacket It probably was a little overkill but i did get to test how well it vented. I love the bright green and reflective stuff on it so does my wife! She took some pictures of me leaving this morning I will try to post them soon. My 5yo son thought the light on the back of the jacket was super cool.

It has been too long since I rode I have to get miles in today and wednesday to do more miles this year vs. last November.

PS I love having fenders on my bike. Rained a lot yesterday and the roads were still wet but toes/ body stayed dry due to fenders.

KCBikeCommuter

I agree. It's been very wet around KC the last few days, which really makes me appreciate my fenders. The weather has warmed up a bit over the last few days and allowed me to transition from cold commuting to wet commuting, but not really cold/wet at the same time, which is a good thing.

I did manage to get a flat tire (on my favorite glass-ridden bridge) and broke a spoke on my last commute. Not sure any tire out there could have prevented this puncture. It was a 2cm piece of glass, shaped like a thorn, that went straight into the tire. While I enjoy having a safe, barricaded bike-path to cross the Missouri River, I have had way too many flats on that section of my commute.

spivonious

Awesome tailwind coming in this morning, with temperatures in the low 60s. Forecasted high is 68F. The bad news is that the wind isn't going to shift. And 4-8" of snow on Wednesday means I'll most likely be driving (slicks + snow + cars = bad idea).

dramiscram

I read you guys and it seems that when you need an excuse, weather is a good one

Big tailwind this morning that will turn into a crazy headwind again tonight. very very windy here nowaday

at least it will be warm at 13-15 °celcius

spivonious

^ Now you're making me feel guilty

The two or three snowstorms per year that we get just isn't worth investing in snow tires and hoping drivers on the road don't slide into me.